Door mat



Feb. 25, 1936.

c. c. TIEDEMANN 2,031,867

noon MAT Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fla I ATTORNEY.

Feb. 25, 1936.

c. c. TIEDEMANN 2,031,867

DOOR MAT Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATIORNEY.

Patented Feb. 25, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIQE DOOR MAT Application February 25, 1935, Serial No. 8,173

11 Claims.

The invention relates to door mats, and particularly to brush-type door mats.

The primary object of the invention is to provide cleaning element units which may be operatively assembled into a door mat structure of any desired dimension and shape.

A further object is to provide a sectional or built-up structure in which the sections are operatively secured together in side-to-side and end-to-end relation.

A further object is to provide novel means for interconnecting and interlocking cleaning element units.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description and appended claims.

In the drawings:

) Figure 1 is a top plan view of a door mat embodying my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical sectional view 20 taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view of a mat of slightly modified construction.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View of the mat taken on line 4-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one form of brush mounting unit.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of brush mounting unit.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a member 30 forming the margin of a mat.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of a member for locking the mat units in end to end relation.

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a member for locking the mat units in side-to-side relation.

35 Referring to the drawings, which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 10 designates a conventional elongated brush mounted on a brush bar I I. Each of these brushes is disposed in a channel shaped mount- 40 ing or positioning member, preferably formed of rolled sheet metal as best illustrated in Figure 5, which comprises a base or bottom I2 from which side walls I3 and end walls It extend vertically upwardly. The side and end walls are prefer- 45 ably disposed in spaced relation at their adjacent ends to provide openings I5 therebetween at the vertical corners of the mounting member, for purposes to be hereinafter set forth. The walls I3 and I4 engage the sides and ends, respec- 50 tively of brush bar II for the major portion of its height. At a point above the vertical center of the brush bar, each of the walls 13 and I4 is provided with a curved portion I6 extending longitudinally thereof, said curved portion pref- 55 erably being of substantially arcuate form, ex-

tending in outwardly off-set relation to the walls l3 and I4, and terminating in an upper inwardly directed end portion whose edge is spaced outwardly of the plane of the inner face of the wall and of the brush bar, and preferably below the top of the brush bar.

A locking member I1, best illustrated in Figure 9, is employed to interconnect the brush mounting members in side-to-side relation. The locking member is preferably formed of rolled sheet metal and, in the form illustrated, is of substantially V-shaped general outline, though any desired configuration of adequate strength and rigidity may be employed. At its opposite sides are provided in-turned flanges I8 termi- 15 nating in spaced relation and adapted for engagement with the curved portions I 6 of the side walls l3 of adjacent brush supporting frames or members.

A U-shaped locking member I9, best illustrated 0 in Figure 8, is utilized to interconnect adjacent brush mounting members in end-to-end relation. This member is also preferably formed of rolled sheet metal and comprises a central portion 20, illustrated as being of arcuate section but which may be of any desired shape having the necessary strength and rigidity, and a pair of plane plate portions 2| extending in parallel relation from the opposite sides of said central portion. Between each plate portion 2| and central portion 20 of the locking member is provided a longitudinally extending curved off-set portion 22 projecting inwardly of each plate portion 2I at a point accommodating engagement with offset I6 of the brush mounting frame.

A marginal member 23, best illustrated in Figure 7, is also formed of rolled sheet metal, and comprises a central portion 24 disposed in a transversely inclined position and provided with a longitudinally extending downward ofi-set 25 intermediate its width. From the upper side of portion 24 extends a vertically downwardly projecting flange 26 having a longitudinal off-set 21 formed therein adjacent the upper end thereof. From the lower side of portion 24 extends an inwardly horizontally directed portion 28 which terminates in a vertically upwardly projecting flange 29 which engages the under side of portion 24 just below off-set 25 thereof to firmly support said central portion and held by off-set 25 against lateral dislocation.

The brush mounting frames or supports are preferably formed of a standard size to accommodate brush bars of a standard length and width therein. Likewise, the interlocking members I! are formed in a standard length which preferably corresponds to the length of the side walls I31 of the brush mounting frames. Thus, when a mat is to be supplied for a given location, the brush mounting frames may be assembled to provide a mat of dimensions at least closely approximating the dimensions of the location. To so assemble the brush frames, the same are placed in side-to-side relation, with the off-sets l6 of adjacent frames in engagement. A locking member I! is then slid longitudinally of the frames, with the flanges 18 thereof fitting into the concavities of the adjacent off-sets l6 and the body portion spanning or arching over said off-sets l6.

There is thus provided a substantially hooked interengagement between each locking member I! and the brush frames it connects, which hooked interengagement is sufficiently flexible to permit of at least a measure of relative angular movement of the brush frames, and consequently permits of rolling of a mat formed of these frames interconnected in side-to-side relation;

Where the desired dimensions of the mat are such as to require that the brush frames also be connected in end-to-end relation, the necessary number of U-shaped locking members I9, cut to desired length, are used to interconnect the frames in such and to end relation. The interconnection of the brush frames is effected by inserting or forcing a plate portion 2| of the locking member between the end of brush bar I l and the end wall [4 of the brush frame of each of adjacent units to seat and detachably anchor the off-sets 22 thereof in the off-sets N5 of said end walls M with the portion 20 of said locking member spanning said off-sets 16. The use of locking member l9 serves to impart rigidity to the mat in a longitudinal direction at a center or unit connecting line thereof.

When the desired number of frames have been so interconnected in side-to-side and end-to-end relation, marginal members 23 of suitable lengths may be applied to the assembly. These marginal members are applied by forcing or inserting the flange 26 thereof between the body of the brush bar and the outer wall of the brush frame of the outer units forming the outer sides of the mat. The flange 26 of each marginal member is operatively positioned to lodge off-set 21 thereof in the off-set iii of said brush frame wall and to position portion 28 of said member flat upon the surface supporting the mat. These marginal members render the mat assembly rigid at its periphery, and this rigidity with the central rigidity imparted by locking members l9 serves to make the mat assembly rigid as a whole. While the invention is primarily intended to provide a brush type mat as illustrated and described, it will be understood that any type of cleaning element suitable for use with the device described may be used in place of the brushes.

It will be noted that the openings l5 at the vertical corners of each brush frame accommodate the use of the locking members I! and I9 and the application thereof and of the marginal members 23 to the frames in the assembly thereof to form a mat. The brushes are preferably seated in the channels of the brush frames without application of additional means for securing them to the frames, whereby they may be readily replaced when worn; the shape of said frames serving to retain and position said brushes while the mat is used. It will also be noted that this mat construction provides, particularly in large mats used in the entrances of public and business 7 buildings where the area of brush wear is localized to a small area of the whole, a factor of economy by permitting partial disassembly and reassembly thereof to position unworn portions in the area of wear and the worn portions in an area sustaining little wear.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 6, I have illustrated a modified embodiment of the invention in which the brush frames are constructed to accommodate more than one brush,

thus reducing the number of parts employed in the above described construction. In this modified embodiment the brush mounting frame is provided with a plurality of elongated aligned base portions l2 disposed in side-to-side relation.

said walls and preferably configured to conform to the configuration of the lock members I! which interconnect the outer side walls, whereby the frame portion exposed between each brush of the mat, i. e. at least those portions extending in parallel relation, is of identical appearance to the eye throughout, and the sectional or built-up character of the mat is not discernible. This type of brush frame is also provided with the openings I5 at the vertical outer corners thereof at least, to accommodate interconnection of the frames by the locking members I! and IS in the manner above described.

It will thus be seen that, by the provision of a plurality of cleaning element units, which may be arranged in any desired relation and suitably interlocked, an operative mat structure may be fabricated. Also, the longitudinal interengagement of the respective interconnecting parts holds the units eifectively, while the locking function thereof, as the spring locking relation of members I9 and 23 with their respective connected parts, does not prevent ready disassembly of the mat.

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. In a door mat, a plurality of cleaning elemerits, a carrier for each element including a base and vertical walls for confining said element, said walls terminating in horizontally extending outwardly off-set portions whose ends extend inwardly and terminate in outwardly spaced relation to said element, and means extending between adjacent carriers and including flanges fitting into the off-sets of adjacent carriers below the ends thereof.

. 2. In a door mat, a plurality of carriers each mounting a cleaning element and including substantially vertical walls for confining said element, said Walls being spaced apart at the vertical corners of said carrier, and members interlocking with the adjacent walls of adjacent carriers, at least some of said interlocking members being assembled within the carriers through said openings to interlocking engagement with the adjacent walls within the carriers.

3. In a door mat, a cleaning element carrier including a base and vertical walls for confining said element, said walls terminating in horizontally extending outwardly off-set portions whose upper end portions extend inwardly and terminate in outwardly spaced relation to the planes of the inner faces of said walls.

4. In a door mat, a plurality of frames each mounting a cleaning element and including a hook portion, and a locking member including spaced hook portions interengaging with the hook portions of adjacent frames.

5. In a door mat, a plurality of carriers each mounting a cleaning element, said carriers each including a vertical element-confining wall having an outwardly off-set portion, and means for interconnecting said carriers including a substantially plane portion insertible between said element and said wall and provided with an offset seating in said wall ofi-set.

6. In a door mat, a carrier mounting a cleaning element and including a vertical elementconfining Wall, connecting means including a part insertible between said element and said wall, said wall and said part each being provided with means interfitting to lock the same against relative movement.

'7. In a door mat, a plurality of frames each mounting a cleaning element and including element-confining walls each provided with a locking portion, said frames being arranged in adjacent relation to provide an assembly of desired shape and dimensions, means interfitting with said locking portions for interlocking each wall to the adjacent wall of the adjoining frame, and marginal members interfitting with the locking portion of the outer walls of the frames of said assembly, some of said interlocking means extending a full dimension of the assembly and cooperating with said marginal members to hold said assembled frames against relative angular movement.

8. In a door mat, a plurality of carriers each mounting a cleaning element and including element-confining walls each provided with a horizontal channel at its upper end, and means for interlocking said carriers including a portion spanning the adjacent channels of adjoining carriers and inturned flanges formed at opposite sides of said portion and fitting in said channels.

9. In a door mat, a plurality of carriers each mounting a cleaning element and including element-confining walls each provided with a channel, and a U-shaped member having an off-set formed in each side thereof, the free end portions of said member each being insertible between the cleaning element and a wall of a carrier with the oif-set fitting into said channel.

10. In a mat, a plurality of cleaning elements, a carrier for each element including a base and element confining walls, said walls having longitudinal off-sets adjacent their upper edges, each off-set having an inwardly directed longitudinal flange spaced from said element, and a member extending between adjacent carriers and provided with spaced longitudinal inwardly directed flanges each fitting into the oiI-set of the adjacent wall beneath the flange thereof.

11. In a mat, a plurality of cleaning elements arranged in adjacent rows, the elements in each row being arranged in side to side relation, a carrier for each element including a base and side and end walls, channeled locking strips between the carriers, said carriers having openings between the walls at the corners thereof for the reception of the flanges of the locking strips within the carriers to the inside of the side flanges thereof, each wall having an off-set formed therein, said channeled locking strips being of a. length substantially co-extensive with the side walls of said carriers and provided with longitudinal members interfitting with the ofisets of adjacent carriers in each row, and strips of a length co-extensive with the length of each row provided with longitudinal members each interfitting with the end wall oiT-sets of the carriers of one of the adjacent rows.

CLINTON C. TLEDEMANN. 

